Ten Things To See And Do In The Netherlands

Netherlands is more than just the tulip fields, dikes, windmills, and bikes. Learn more about the country, experience Dutch life as it happens, and walk along its streets and walk with its history, culture and people. So plan the trip, pack your bags and head for these places and activities in the Netherlands.

1.) Amsterdam

If there's one thing that draws people into this city, it's probably the relaxed atmosphere that you never get to experience elsewhere. Amsterdam locals have found a way to balance business life with relaxation and to find time to bask in the sun and to attend business responsibilities. Shop, dine, party, and relax in this care-free, liberal city with its friendly English-speaking people.

2.) Delft

Delft is a town of beauty, with its houses, tree-lined canals, and historical landmarks. Walk around the historical town and be enthralled by the tranquility of its bridges, pavements, houses, and brickworks that stood the tests of time. You can also go to Delftse Hout recreation area and try windsurfing, swimming in its lake and narrow beaches, or check out its community gardens, camping areas and other sports facilities.

3.) Haarlem

Get a taste of the Harleem beer where it is brewed. Take a walk in the bustling Grote Markt on Mondays and Saturdays and enjoy the market, buy anything from clothing materials to fresh herring. Tulips also grow in abundance in Haarlem, so make sure to visit and take a sniff of one of the Haarlem's most prized industry.

4.) The Red Light District

From cutouts faces to literal red lights, the Netherlands' Red Light District has left nothing to imagination. Walk in its alleys, interact with other people and learn something new. Remember, there's no place like the RLD, and it deserves a visit.

5.) The Hague

The Hague, with all its 100 km2 piece of land, serves as the home of the Dutch Government, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court. This makes The Hague not only important in terms of domestic affairs but also in terms of international judicial system as well. Take a peek into the live and culture of this city by visiting its museums and other tourist destinations.

6.) Bike Tour

Biking has been a way of life for the Dutch people, and people from all walks of life do it for health, economic or recreational reasons. Travel the Netherlands on two wheels and see a place you'll never see on four wheels. Better yet, join the Dutch bicycle tour and experience Netherlands the way you never imagined.

7.) Beer Drinking

Going to a beer-exporting country demands you should taste it on site, and Heineken is not the end of the Dutch beer line. This never seems to be a problem for the Dutch people who ship some 1,300 million liters of beer annually and allows 16 year olds to drink their beer. Whether you drink it as a delicacy or you just want an excuse to crawl to your hotel's door, a Dutch retreat is never a Dutch retreat without those Heinekens.

8.) Keukenhof Gardens

Love Flowers? See how nature and Dutch hands create a paradise with blooming tulips, hyacinths and other assortments of flowers. River cruises that features spring tulip cruises are also being offered to people who would want to take a look of Keukenhof Gardens and the rest of the Netherlands.

9.) Hoge Veluwe National Park

Measuring 5,500 hectares, Hoge Veluwe National Park is the largest national reserve in the Netherlands. It is home not only for drift-sands, wild deer and other animals but also to the Kröller-Müller Museum, the repository of Helene Kröller-Müller's art collection. While going there with four wheels is not advisable, you can rent white bicycles in three designated regions and hope you will never get lost in the see of green and gold.

10.) Van Gogh Museum

Netherlands is home not only for budding tulips but also for famous painters and artists. Located in Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum is considered one of the best galleries that feature impressionist artworks. Walk in and see "The Potato Eaters" and "The Yellow House in Arles" right before your eyes.